Logica Plc, the big London W software house and systems integrator, has opened a Middle Eastern regional headquarters in Dubai. The opening of the office is part of the company’s growth plans globally. The Middle East region is looking to increase its contribution to 8% to 10% of the company’s turnover, which means three- to fourfold growth. Logica Middle East’s general manager Simon Tyrell reckons That’s ambitious but achievable. At the moment Logica has an annual turnover of UKP230m and is looking to grow that to UKP500m over the next three years. Logica has had staff or agents in the Middle East for the past eight years and the creation of the head office is an attempt to cash in on what it believes is a burgeoning market. So far, the financial sector has been its main source of business, but Logica is targetting the defence, utilities and, unsuprisingly, the oil and gas industries. In the defence sector it is planning to team with a number of successful UK defence companies and also the UK government. Countries that will come under the Dubai office’s remit are Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Emirate states. Some of the countries are seen as long term ventures, like Kuwait and Lebanon which are recovery from war damage. For example, Logica estimates that its will take between five and 10 years for its Lebanese efforts to pay dividends. In 1992 Logica opened an office in Riyadh but Dubai was chosen as headquarters for the venture because it is far easier for British nationals to enter and exit Dubai than Saudi. Also, United Emirate Airlines has its hub in Dubai and it flies to all the countries in which Logica Middle East is interested.
